Kentucky School Advocate
May 2024
Lincoln County board member dies
Lincoln County Schools board member Marvin Wilson passed away on April 6. He was 77.
Wilson was in his second term on the Lincoln County board and had previously served as a bus driver for over 20 years.
“Marvin was a dedicated member of the district for many years,” said Superintendent Bruce Smith. “We appreciate his years spent driving our students safely to and from school and his willingness to serve on the board to help guide our district. He will be missed by all that knew him.”
Wilson was a U.S. Army veteran, had owned and operated the Moreland Auction Barn and was a long-time member of Bohon Road Baptist Church in Mercer County.
Wilson is survived by his wife of 38 years, Connie VanHook Wilson; daughter, Kelly Hughes of Junction City; and son, Monty (Nikki) Wilson of Harrodsburg.
Anderson County board member dies
Peggy Peach, an Anderson County board member, died April 26. She was 67.
“She was a nurse, a volunteer, a leader and someone who valued her family and friends,” the district said in a statement.
Peach had served on the board for five years. She was a member of the New Life Christian Church. Peach received an associate degree in nursing from Kentucky State University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Midway College. She retired from the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Lexington and worked with Lawrenceburg Ambulance Service for six years. She was the first woman to be hired by the ambulance service.
Including her husband Bobby, Peach is survived by her daughter, Gretchen Crouch; and her son, Clay Crouch (Crystal), all of Lawrenceburg; her stepchildren, Joey Peach of Shelbyville and Bobbie Kaye Darnell (Allen) of Anderson County.
Filing deadline approaches
The filing deadline for those seeking reelection or election to a Kentucky school board is June 4. This year, on most county boards, two seats will be up for election. On independent district boards, three seats will be up for election.
Board members who have been appointed may also have to run for election depending on the timing of the vacancy. KRS 160.190 states that, “Any vacancy having an unexpired term of one (1) year or more on August 1 after the vacancy occurs shall be filled for the unexpired term by an election to be held at the next regular election after the vacancy occurs.”
Particularly in independent districts where board members run at-large, there may be confusion about which seats are for the full term and which are for the unexpired term. Districts should stay in communication throughout the filing period with the county clerk to make sure that candidates who are seeking election to the unexpired term are clearly distinguished on the ballot from those candidates who are seeking election to full terms.
Candidates for independent boards need to make clear to their clerks and on the filing paperwork whether they are running for a full term or an unexpired term.
To file for school board, candidates will need their high school transcript (or proof of equivalency), and forms such as appointment of campaign treasurer and optional request for reporting exemption, affidavit for school board candidacy and membership, the nominating petition and $20 filing fee.
Two Kentucky schools named Green Ribbon Schools
The U.S. Department of Education announced two Kentucky schools – Arlington Elementary (Fayette County) and Robert D. Johnson Elementary (Fort Thomas Independent) – have earned the 2024 Green Ribbon Schools award.
The award goes to schools that focus on three pillars:
• Reducing environmental impact and cost.
• Improving the health and wellness of students and staff.
• Providing effective environmental and sustainability education, which incorporates STEM, civic skills and green career pathways.
The schools are among 41 being honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, improve health and wellness, and offer effective sustainability education.